Dreamliner: Most Boeing 787 planes grounded on safety fears
Dreamliner: Most Boeing 787 planes grounded on safety fears
(about 2 hours later)
Airlines and regulators have grounded the majority of Boeing's flagship 787 Dreamliner planes amid continuing safety concerns.
Airlines have grounded the majority of Boeing's flagship 787 Dreamliner planes amid continuing safety concerns.
Airlines in Chile and India have temporarily halted 787 flights, following a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive.
Qatar Airways joined airlines in Chile and India in temporarily halting 787 flights, following a directive to ground planes from US authorities.
European regulators have also followed suit, ordering that planes be grounded.
European regulators have also called for the planes to be grounded.
Boeing said the planes were safe and that it stood by the integrity of the Dreamliner.
Boeing said the planes were safe and that it stood by the integrity of the Dreamliner, which came into service in October last year.
A string of issues in recent weeks have raised questions about the 787.
A string of issues in recent weeks have raised questions about the 787.
Dreamliners have suffered incidents including fuel leaks, a cracked cockpit window, brake problems and an electrical fire. However, it is the battery problems that have caused the most concern.
Dreamliners have suffered incidents including fuel leaks, a cracked cockpit window, brake problems and an electrical fire. However, it is the battery problems that have caused the most concern.
On Wednesday, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight made an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction. That caused them to ground all 17 of their Dreamliners and Japan Airways followed suit.
On Wednesday, an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight made an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction. That caused it to ground all 17 of its Dreamliners and Japan Airways followed suit.
Airlines complying
Issuing its directive, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said that airlines must demonstrate battery safety before flights can resume.
The FAA added that it had alerted the international aviation community of its airworthiness directive, so that other authorities could take parallel action to cover the fleets operating in their countries.
The European Aviation Safety Agency endorsed the directive early on Thursday.
So far, all but one of the airlines currently flying Boeing 787s have grounded the planes.
All Nippon Airways and Japan Airways have grounded their combined fleet of 21 787s
United Airlines, the only US airline currently operating Dreamliners, said it would immediately comply with the FAA's directive and would begin re-accommodating customers on alternative aircraft
Chile's LAN announced it would suspend its three Dreamliners from service in co-ordination with the Chilean Aeronautical Authority
Indian aviation regulators also complied by ordering Air India to stop operating its 787s
Poland's Lot Airlines, the only European airline currently flying 787s, was due to launch its 787 transatlantic service this week, but cancelled a return flight from Chicago to Warsaw on Wednesday
Qatar Airways, which currently operates five Dreamliners, said it had grounded the planes and was "actively working with Boeing and the regulators to restore full customer confidence in the 787".
Executives at the remaining 787 operator, Ethiopian Airlines, were in a meeting about the FAA directive on Thursday morning, but have yet to announce the grounding of planes.
'Every necessary step'
'Every necessary step'
The US authority the FAA said that airlines must demonstrate battery safety before flights can resume.
Leithen Francis, from Aviation Week, said airlines had little choice but to take the aircraft out of service temporarily.
The FAA added that it had alerted the international aviation community of its airworthiness directive so that other authorities could take parallel action to cover the fleets operating in their countries.
"When the FAA issues an airworthiness directive, civil aviation and airlines around the world have to follow [it], particularly in regards to the 787, because it is a US-designed and developed aircraft," he told the BBC.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has also ordered that 787 planes be grounded - a directive that affects Poland's Lot Airlines as the only European airline currently flying 787s.
Lot Airlines was due to launch its 787 transatlantic service this week. It went ahead with its first flight from Warsaw to Chicago on Wednesday afternoon, but cancelled the return flight.
Leithen Francis, from Aviation Week, said airlines had little choice but to ground planes.
"When the FAA issues an airworthiness directive civil aviation and airlines around the world have to follow the FAA airworthiness directive, particularly in regards to the 787 because it a US-designed and developed aircraft," he told the BBC.
Boeing said it supported the FAA but added it was confident the 787 was safe.
Boeing said it supported the FAA but added it was confident the 787 was safe.
Chief executive Jim McNerney said: "We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the travelling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.
Chief executive Jim McNerney said: "We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the travelling public of the 787's safety and to return the airplanes to service.
"Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."
"Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers."
Boeing shares closed down more than 3% on Wall Street on Wednesday.
Boeing shares closed down more than 3% on Wall Street on Wednesday.
8 Jan 2013: Take-off aborted after about 150 litres of fuel spill from Japan Airlines Dreamliner in Boston
8 Jan 2013: Take-off aborted after about 150 litres of fuel spill from Japan Airlines Dreamliner in Boston
13 Jan: Same aircraft experiences another, separate fuel leak while undergoing tests in Tokyo
13 Jan: Same aircraft experiences another, separate fuel leak while undergoing tests in Tokyo
Electronics
Electronics
4 Dec 2012: A United Airlines 787 makes emergency landing in New Orleans after electrical problems
4 Dec 2012: A United Airlines 787 makes emergency landing in New Orleans after electrical problems
13 Dec: Qatar Airways 787 grounded after electrical power distribution problems
13 Dec: Qatar Airways 787 grounded after electrical power distribution problems
17 Dec: United finds electrical problem in second aircraft
17 Dec: United finds electrical problem in second aircraft
7 Jan 2013: Fire starts in lithium ion battery pack of Japan Airlines 787 in Boston
7 Jan 2013: Fire starts in lithium ion battery pack of Japan Airlines 787 in Boston
8 Jan: United Airlines also finds faulty wiring to battery
8 Jan: United Airlines also finds faulty wiring to battery
Engines
Engines
July 2012: Fan shaft on engine fails during runway tests at Charleston International Airport
July 2012: Fan shaft on engine fails during runway tests at Charleston International Airport
11 Jan 2013: Oil leak found in engine of All Nippon Airways 787 flight
11 Jan 2013: Oil leak found in engine of All Nippon Airways 787 flight
Brakes
Brakes
9 Jan 2013: All Nippon Airways cancels flight when computer wrongly reports a brake problem
9 Jan 2013: All Nippon Airways cancels flight when computer wrongly reports a brake problem
Cockpit
Cockpit
11 Jan 2013: Cockpit window on an All Nippon Airways Dreamliner cracks during a Japanese domestic flight. The plane lands safely with no injuries
11 Jan 2013: Cockpit window on an All Nippon Airways Dreamliner cracks during a Japanese domestic flight. The plane lands safely with no injuries
15 Jan: Another Dreamliner operated by ANA makes an emergency landing at Takamatsu in Japan after a smoke alert goes off
15 Jan: Another Dreamliner operated by ANA makes an emergency landing at Takamatsu in Japan after a smoke alert goes off
Complying airlines
United Airlines, the only US airline currently operating Dreamliners, said it would immediately comply with the FAA's directive and would begin re-accommodating customers on alternative aircraft.
Chile's LAN announced it would suspend usage of its three Dreamliners in co-ordination with the Chilean Aeronautical Authority.
Indian aviation regulators also complied by ordering Air India to stop operating its 787s.
"The FAA has issued an advisory to ground the Dreamliners. We took a decision after that," said director general of civil aviation Arun Mishra.
"As of now there is no clarity on when the Dreamliners will be back in service. Boeing has to satisfy everyone with safety standards."
All together more than four-fifths of the 787s in use are now not flying.
Mr Francis said this could have an effect on airlines currently considering ordering 787s, causing them to choose rival Airbus' A330 instead, which is a comparable aircraft and a proven product.
Mr Francis said this could have an effect on airlines currently considering ordering 787s, causing them to choose rival Airbus' A330 instead, which is a comparable aircraft and a proven product.
Under investigation
Companies on the order books include UK holiday firm Thompson, which was due to take delivery of Dreamliners next month.
Late on Wednesday, the FAA said it would work with the manufacturer and carriers on an action plan to allow the US 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible.
The FAA said it would work with the manufacturer and carriers on an action plan to allow the US 787 fleet to resume operations as quickly and safely as possible.
"The in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013," the regulator said.
"The in-flight Japanese battery incident followed an earlier 787 battery incident that occurred on the ground in Boston on January 7, 2013," the regulator said.
"The AD (airworthiness directive) is prompted by this second incident involving a lithium ion battery."
"The AD (airworthiness directive) is prompted by this second incident involving a lithium ion battery."
It said the battery failures resulted in the release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke, and the cause of the failures was under investigation.
It said the battery failures resulted in the release of flammable electrolytes, heat damage, and smoke, and the cause of the failures was under investigation.
"These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment," the FAA said.
"These conditions, if not corrected, could result in damage to critical systems and structures, and the potential for fire in the electrical compartment," the FAA said.
